The Role of game
Theory in the Co-
evolution of Plasmid
Components
A comparison of single plasmids and mobilomes from
Escherichia coli
Anthony Cullen
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The Red Queen and
The Black Queen
Hypotheses
“If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice
as fast as that!” ~ Red Queen, Through the Looking-Glass
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Size Comparison
MCR1 + Sul3
• Large plasmids.
• Enough space to avoid
one another.
MCR1 Alone
• Mainly small plasmids.
• Smaller due to cost of
maintenance.
• MCR1 uncooperative.
Sul3 Alone
• Larger plasmids.
• More cooperative than MCR1.
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Queens’ model Justification
Black Queen Results Red Queen Results
• Alone, MCR1 does not perform
vital cell functions, but when
together with Sul3, Sul3 carries
out the necessary functions whilst
MCR1 can benefit from other
genes carrying out mutual tasks
• MCR1 competes with itself
• Carries out point mutations to
occupy a new niche to stay on
the small plasmid
• For co-evolution, individually,
MCR1 and Sul3 are
uncooperative, but they
cooperate together to survive.
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Results Comparison
MCR1 and Sul3 Results CTXM15 and Sul1 Results
• MCR1 and Sul3 are
uncooperative genes in contrast
to CTXM15 and Sul1.
• Red Queen is present in genetic
basis (point mutations)
• Promotion of Black Queen
(Cooperation between plasmids)
• CTXM15 and Sul1 are more
cooperative in comparison to
MCR1 and Sul3
• CTXM is particularly cooperative
and is present with many other
resistant genes
• Both Queen Theories are
present in genomic basis
• Failure and promotion of Black
Queen
Thank You
Anthony Cullen
17410942
Maynooth University
SPUR
